National Museum of Singapore

National Museum of Singapore

Chinese: 新加坡国家博物馆 Malay: Muzium Negara Singapura Tamil: சிங்கப்பூரின் தேசிய அருங்காட்சியகம்
File:NSMLogo.png
File:2016 Singapur, Museum Planning Area, Narodowe Muzeum Singapuru (02).jpg Entrance to the National Museum of Singapore
Former name	The Raffles Library and Museum
Established	1887 (1887)
Location	93 Stamford Road, Singapore 178897
Coordinates
Type	History Museum
Accreditation	National Heritage Board
Director	Chung May Khuen
Architect	Henry McCallum J. F. McNair W Architects and I.M. Pei
Public transit access	CC2  Bras Basah  DT21  Bencoolen
Website	www.nhb.gov.sg/nationalmuseum/
National monument of Singapore
Designated	14 February 1992 (14 February 1992)
Reference no.	30

The National Museum of Singapore is a public museum dedicated to Singaporean art, culture and history. Located within the country's Civic District at the Downtown Core area, it is the oldest museum in the country, with its history dating back to when it was first established in 1849, starting out as a section of a library at the Singapore Institution as the Raffles Library and Museum.

After several relocations over the next few decades, the museum moved to its current permanent site at Stamford Road in 1887. Between 1993 and March 2006, it was briefly known as the Singapore History Museum, before it subsequently returned to its present name that was first given in 1965. The museum preserves and interprets Singapore's social history, exploring the key events and people that have shaped the nation.

Over the years, the National Museum of Singapore has expanded and undergone various expansions and renovations. Its most recent restoration and upgrading works began in September 2023 with staggered gallery closures, and is slated for a full reopening in October 2026. The museum remains open in the meantime with exhibitions and programmes. The previous three-and-a-half-year restoration was completed on 2 December 2006, and was officially reopened on 7 December 2006 by former President of Singapore S. R. Nathan and the Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lee Boon Yang. The Singapore History Gallery would open on 8 December that same year.

It is one of six national museums in the country; the other five being the two Asian Civilisations Museums at Empress Place Building and Old Tao Nan School respectively, the Singapore Art Museum, Peranakan Museum as well as the National Gallery Singapore. The National Museum of Singapore is also one of the country's national monuments, having been designated as such in 1992 by the National Heritage Board. It is one of the largest museums in Asia. The National Museum of Singapore exhibits sculptures, objets d'art, paintings, drawings, and archaeological finds. Admission to the National Museum of Singapore is complimentary for Singaporean citizens and permanent residents.

History

File:KITLV - 105738 - Raffles Museum in Singapore - circa 1900.tif

The museum, circa 1900

The museum was established in 1849 by the then Singapore Institution Committee, and is the oldest museum in Singapore, hence its 19th century exterior design. Upon establishment, it was known as the Raffles Library and Museum, starting out as a section of a library at the Singapore Institution before moving to 93 Stamford Road in 1887 after several relocations, where it is currently located.

Between 1993 and March 2006, it was known as the Singapore History Museum, before it subsequently returned to its present name that was first given in 1965 as the National Museum of Singapore.

Over the centuries, the National Museum of Singapore has expanded and undergone various expansions and renovations, with a three-and-a-half-year restoration that was completed on 2 December 2006, and was officially reopened on 7 December 2006 by President of Singapore S. R. Nathan and the Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lee Boon Yang.

The museum was designated a National Monument of Singapore on 14 February 1992 by the National Heritage Board.

Collection

In 2019, Tang Holdings donated a large collection of Sir Stamford Raffles memorabilia, including 46 holograph letters and his book The History of Java, to the museum.

In 2022, seats from Singapore Airlines's first Airbus A380 were added to the museum's collection. In 2023, a Solari board previously used at Changi Airport's Terminal 2 was added. In 2024, a 1970s Nanyang coffee roasting machine and a 1979 Housing and Development Board lift were added. In the same year, some parts from a decommissioned 1995 SMRT Siemens C651 train that served the North–South and East–West lines (NSEWL) until 2024, such as train doors, seats and map displays were also added to its collection.

Gallery

• The eastern wing of the museum at night
  The eastern wing of the museum at night
• The museum's dome consists of 3,000 zinc fish-scaled tiles and stained glass panels
  The museum's dome consists of 3,000 zinc fish-scaled tiles and stained glass panels
• The museum's concourse
  The museum's concourse
• The Singapore Stone, 10th-14th centuries.
  The Singapore Stone, 10th-14th centuries.
• A mockup of, apparently, a 19th-century British warship, installed in 2019.
  A mockup of, apparently, a 19th-century British warship, installed in 2019.
• An exhibit on Singapore as a growing port city in 1867-1900s.
  An exhibit on Singapore as a growing port city in 1867-1900s.
• Diorama depicting a coolie room from the 1900s.
  Diorama depicting a coolie room from the 1900s.
• Reconstruction of a 19th-century Singapore shop.
  Reconstruction of a 19th-century Singapore shop.
• Coolie house sign, early 20th century.
  Coolie house sign, early 20th century.
• The 2025 Once Upon a Tide exhibition on Singapore's maritime history.
  The 2025 Once Upon a Tide exhibition on Singapore's maritime history.
• Exhibit on World War II.
  Exhibit on World War II.
• Personal items found in mass graves resulting from the Sook Ching massacre of 1942 by the Imperial Japanese Army.
  Personal items found in mass graves resulting from the Sook Ching massacre of 1942 by the Imperial Japanese Army.

See also

• List of museums in Singapore
• Museum Planning Area

References

Works cited

• National Heritage Board, Archipelago Press, Singapore's 100 Historic Places (2002),
• Norman Edwards and Peter Keys, Times Books International (1996), Singapore: A Guide to Buildings, Streets and Places,

External links

• Virtual tour of the National Museum of Singapore (archived)